August ig, 1892.] 



SCIENCE. 



109 



molecular and atomic weights, the periodic law, valency, the con- 

 stitution of chemical compounds, physical isomerism, density, 

 fusion, refraction, solution, crystallization, diffusion, evaporation, 

 constitution of gases, relations of heat to chemical change, disso- 

 ciation, electrolysis, migration of ions, speed of chemical change, 

 action of mass and avidity. The following sentences are from the 

 concluding paragraph: "We have gradually receded fi'om the 

 idea of a static state of equilibrium of the atoms, brought about 

 by their powers of affinity, and we now consider the atoms and 

 the molecules, which are built up of atoms, as particles in an ac- 

 tive state of movement. Their relations to each other are essen- 

 tially determined by the magnitude and form of their movements. 

 Chemical theories grow more and more kinetic." 



Some Americans, at least, will dissent from the judgment of 

 the author in still making the atomic ratio H : O equal to 1 : 15 . 96 ; 

 but it may well be hoped that this well-balanced compend of 

 leading theories, in its English dress, will widen the interest already 

 shown in the philosophical aspects of this science. E. B. W, 



Deafness and Discharge from the Ear. By Samuel Sexton, M.D. 

 Assisted by Alexander Duane, M D. New York, J. H. Vail 

 & Co. 89 p. 



The object of the writers of this small volume is to bring before 

 the profession the merits of the operation of excision of the drum 

 membrane and ossicles in cases of chronic deafness from catarrh. 

 The theory of the operation is stated at length, and a number of 

 cases in which it has proved successful are reported. It would 

 have been more satisfactory if a complete tabulation of all cases 

 had been offered, so that a more accurate estimate could have been 

 formed as to results. From what is stated, however, the procedure 

 is clearly one of much service in some instances. 



Human Origins. By Samuel Laing. Illustrated. London, Chap- 

 man & Hall, 1893. 



This is an exceedingly well-written and interesting summary of 

 all the theories, facts, and mysterious questions connected with 

 the origin of mankind on earth, by a somewhat remarkable man, 

 whose previous works, " Problems of the Future " and "Modem 

 Science and Modern Thought," met with a wide circulation in 

 England. The author, Mr. Samuel Laing, the son of the translator 

 of the Norse Sagas, comes of a good old Scottish family and was 

 second wrangler of his year. Well-known in the House of Com- 

 mons as ''the member for the Orkneys," Mr. Laing twice served 

 in Mr. Gladstone's administrations, as finance minister to India 

 and financial secretary to the treasm-y, and is now the president 

 of a prosperous English railroad. This veteran of finance and 

 affairs has always found solace and delight in the study of abstruse 

 scientific problems of the day. His various publications present 

 the results of wide and discriminating reading and research, in a 

 logical, concise, yet comprehensible style for the benefit of those 

 who have not the time to look into such matters for themselves. 



In the present volume Mr. Laing deals first with the abundant 

 evidences of the existence of civilized man upon earth at least a 

 thousand years before the date of the creation of the world as 

 given by theological chronologists. A clear outline is presented 

 of the condition of religion, art, science, and agriculture of " Old 

 Time," as revealed by the earliest monumental records and in- 

 scriptions of ancient Egypt, Assyria, and Chaldea. These alone 

 afford convincing proof of the great antiquity of civilized man 

 and of the existence of a high grade of culture at the earliest 

 dawn of the historical period, which was preceded by legendary 

 ages of less duration and by the long-forgotten antecedent neo- 

 lithic era and remoter epoch of paleeolithic man. 



The evidences of science are then considered as revealed in 

 geological and pateontological records of the past. The effects of 

 the glacial period, CroU's theory of its cause, and Quaternary, 

 Tertiary, post-glacial, and inter-glacial and preglacial man are 

 discussed in turn. The geological data from the Old and New 

 Worlds, favoi'able and opposed to the antiquity of man, are stated 

 with clear impartiality. The author seems well acquainted with 

 the works of American scientists such as Abbott, Morton, Brinton, 

 Wright, Whitney, and Shaler. He shares, however, in the preva- 

 lent confusion with regard to the Toltecs. His main argument is 



governed by the force of the logical postulate of continuous evo- 

 lution. "No one now believes," he vvrites, "in a multiplicity of 

 miracles to account for the existence of animal species. Is man 

 alone an exception to this universal law, or is he. like the rest of 

 creation, a product of what Darwinians call evolution, and en- 

 lightened theologians 'the original impress?'" He is therefore 

 led to the conviction of the great antiquity of the human race. 

 He would seek for human origins at least as far back as the Mio- 

 cene period, and search in the earliest Eocene strata for the col- 

 lateral ancestors both of the existing races of mankind and surviv- 

 ing species of anthropoid apes. "With this extension of time,"' 

 he concludes, "the existence of man, instead of being an anomaly 

 and a discord, falls in with the sublime harmony of the universe, 

 of which it is the dominant note." 



The volume is well illustrated from varied and modem sources. 

 There are a few obvious misprints, such as Tyler for Tylor, tri- 

 lateral for triliteral, Mortillot for Mortillet; which will doubtless 

 be corrected in the forthcoming second edition. The first is already 

 exhausted. Agnes Ckane. 



Brighton, England, Aug. 1. 



Essays upon Heredity and Kindred Biological Problems. By Dr. 

 August Weismann. Authorized translation by Messrs. Poul- 

 ton, Schonland, and Shipley. New York, Macmillan & Co. 

 3 vols. 8". 



Those who have followed the active discussion of the remarka- 

 ble investigations and stimulating hypotheses of the author of 

 these volumes will not expect in this place a review of the works 

 which have made his name famous even among those who have 

 not been willing to accept all his conclusions. Such a review 

 would be inadequately accommodated in a volume as large as either 

 of those which are mentioned here. It would amount to a sum- 

 mary of existing biologic theory, which is being added to daily, 

 almost hourly, and from which the teaching effect of time daily 

 dissolves away some misconception or superfluity. In common 

 with the great body of American naturalists we believe that the 

 most talked-about strand in Weismann's woof of hypothesis — the 

 assertion of the non-transmission of acquired characters — is not 

 only an erroneous but an entirely unnecessary assumption, an 

 assumption which, carried vigorously to its necessary conclusions, 

 may well be termed the key-note of a genuine "gospel of despair." 

 This assumption at present is upheld chiefly by a sort of circular 

 argument which explains the " acquired character " to be one ac- 

 quired by the body solely, exclusive of the reproductive plasma, 

 while any character which is shown to be transmitted is put out 

 of court as having been acquired by the " whole organism." But 

 whatever be the fate of any of these special views, either of Weis- 

 mann or his opponents, there can be no question as to the great 

 importance of the questions involved, or of the scientific, honora- 

 ble, and impartial spirit in which the great German naturalist has 

 discussed them. 



While many of the problems concerned are strictly scientific 

 and to be adequately discussed by trained naturalists alone, some 

 of the questions, and the conclusions which result from all, are of 

 the utmost importance to every philosopher, theologian, and soci- 

 ologist. It is therefore a matter for general congratulation that 

 the essays in question have been put into English in a form which 

 excludes all doubt as to the adequacy of the translation or the 

 faithfulness with which his ideas have been presented. 



The work appears with the weU-known elegance of the Oxford 

 Press, and should find a place in every working library. 



Darwin, and af*er Darwin, an Exposition of the Darwinian 

 Theory, and a Discussion of Post-Darwinian Que.stions. By 

 George John Romanes. I. The Darwinian Theory. Chi- 

 cago, Open Court Publishing Co. xvi., 460 p. 8°. 



This treatise, the first of two contemplated volumes, has grown 

 out of a series of lectures delivered before the University of Edin- 

 burgh, and is devoted to the general theory of organic evolution 

 as Darwin left it. As these lectures were delivered to learners, 

 and in their present form are intended for the general reader, the 

 author states that he has been " every where careful to avoid as- 

 suming even the most elementary knowledge of natural science " 



